He seemed irritable, depressed, and Joe stole a sidewise glance at him.
"A penny for your thoughts."
"You'd be cheated," Ellis grinned sheepishly.
"Say, what are you so gosh darn low about?"
"I'm not low. Are you coming over tonight?"
"The kids will be over. I have work to do."
"Don't you ever think of anything else?"
"Can't. When you're an old man like me, with a bunch of youngsters
looking to you, you won't be able to either."
For a moment they walked in silence while Ellis's introspective mood
enfolded him like an invisible cloak. He said suddenly,
"Joe, what do you think of women?"
For a moment, because he was puzzled, Joe did not answer. It was more
than a casual question, and behind it lay something that Joe failed to
understand. When he did answer, he said very gently,
"I know about only one woman, son. And I think the world of her."
"Do you believe in love?"